Tag: Diagnostic Criteria

Understanding IBS in Children

Irritable bowel syndrome is a dysfunction in the digestive system particularly in the large intestine or in the colon. There is actually no known cause of this problem. Although there are some factors that do trigger its exacerbation such as stress, certain food items and milk. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain and feeling of fullness or bloating.

As irritable bowel syndrome affects all ages and all genders, children are not free from the problems it may bring on. In fact, it is even more a problem with children as they may feel severe abdominal pain because of their inability to excrete their body waste. Still, the same set of criteria that the Rome II Diagnostic Criteria System prescribed is used with children. There is no age distinction as well as gender differences. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome affects girls and boys equally.

Children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome may also experience headaches and nausea just like their adult counterparts. They may also find mucus threads on their stool. Mucus is a substance that helps moisten the passage of wastes out of the body. Most often, irritable bowel syndrome occur during periods when they are on the throes of growth milestones such as teething or some serious illness such as a flu. Some children may also develop irritable bowel syndrome if they are stressed in class. Despite this, it must be noted that stress does not cause irritable bowel syndrome. Rather it triggers the effects of irritable bowel syndrome to the body.

Diagnosis in children will also involve accounts of symptoms as well as examination of the medical history. As with diagnosing adults, physicians may conduct tests that will rule out the possibility of other diseases before reaching a full diagnosis.

Treatment in children involves more on the natural diet side as they are much too young to take in medications. Often, they are asked to eat food items that are rich in fiber to help ease constipation and get rid of the pain in the abdomen. Training is also recommended especially to children who do not empty their bowels often.

Medications like laxatives may also be prescribed but as last resort as children are more susceptible to addiction to the drug compared to adults. If laxatives however is badly needed, doctors provide detailed procedure to the parents to endure that the medication will be properly taken in.

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a dysfunction in the digestive system that largely affects the large intestine or the colon. This is the part of the system that takes care of the bowel movements in the body including the storage and the excretion of solid waste materials. In irritable bowel syndrome, the large intestine becomes too sensitive. As to whats the reason behind the sensitiveness of the large intestine, scientists and medical experts still cannot determine why. Researches are still being made up until now to ascertain the true cause of irritable bowel syndrome.

Because of the sensitiveness of the large intestine, specifically the lining, minor changes in the body system which is often brought on by stress and changes in the chemical make-up that enter the chambers result in reactions that affect the bodys bowel movements.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome may either suffer from diarrhea, characterized by a loose and watery stool or from constipation characterized by hard stool and infrequent defecation. This is a problem that is often mistaken as ordinary food poisoning or even indigestion. Unfortunately, since there is no single known cause of irritable bowel syndrome, there is also no diagnostic test that can confirm the disorder. The most that doctors do is to conduct tests that would eliminate other possibilities before continuing with the diagnosis.

One thing thought that separates irritable bowel syndrome from other diseases is the presence of abdominal pain that can last for a period of 12 months. Of course, the pain would not be there every day but a period of a year with abdominal pain is one of the main criteria for a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.

Because it is a syndrome, diagnosis will not depend on just one symptom. There are criteria that must be met before a conclusive diagnosis can be reached. The Rome II Diagnostic Criteria System is often used to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. This system is also used in other gastrointestinal problems in the body and has already been established in the medical field as solid and sound criteria for diagnosis.

There is actually no cure for irritable bowel syndrome. The only thing that your doctor can do is to help relieve the pain. Treatment often involves the taking in of medications that will help ease constipation and regulate the bowel system, change in the diet plans and sometimes stress relief through psychotherapy.

Patients are also asked to avoid certain foods that are associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Food items that should be avoided include foods that are rich in oil and fats such as French fries, alcoholic drinks, chocolate, milk and milk products such as ice cream and cheese and even coffee.

Signs And Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is perhaps one of the most difficult medical problems to diagnose. In addition to having no specific cause, irritable bowel syndrome cannot also be tested as there are no diagnostic tests that can confirm the condition.

What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome is dysfunction in the large intestine, the part of the digestive system that is responsible for the storage and excretion of solid body wastes. According to experts, it seems that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have large intestines that are very sensitive to stimulation, too much so that the slightest change in the bodily function can cause the whole system to go haywire.
Although there are no known causes of the problem, most doctors agree that food intake and the stress that the body experience may play a role in triggering the problem. Similar to allergic reactions, there are certain foods that may irritate the large intestine and lead to either constipation or diarrhea. Milk products for instance, can cause irritable bowel syndrome.

No direct cause
The lack of direct cause is also the reason why there is no diagnostic test that can confirm the diagnosis. Doctors have to rely on the accounts of the patients about their symptoms as well as the medical history. Diagnosis can only be achieved if the set of criteria is fulfilled. This means that the presence of only one symptom is not enough to make a diagnosis. The doctor must find a set of symptoms before drawing conclusions. Thus, it is called a syndrome and not just a disorder. This, however, can be rather confusing as most if not all of the symptoms under irritable bowel syndrome are those that are also present in other diseases.

What are its symptoms?
According to the Rome II Diagnostic Criteria System, often used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, a problem is diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome if there is a 12 month-period of abdominal pain accompanied by two of these three factors, pain is relieved when the person has already excreted the waste material; the onset is associated with a change in the frequency of defecating, either by constipation or diarrhea; or the onset is associated with a change in the appearance of the stool. Accompaniment of these factors must have a duration of at least 12 weeks and is not necessarily consecutive.

The Anatomy Of Gilbert’s Disease

People have long asked about how exactly does Gilberts disease affect us in our daily lives? Well these questions have also concerned doctors and medical experts for the longest time. This because of the peculiarity of the condition itself, Gilberts disease is hereditary in nature yet unlike other hereditary diseases it does not have any major effects on the body. To further understand the structure and the inner workings of the condition here are some of the facts revolving around it so you will be better informed.

Gilberts Syndrome

Gilbert syndrome is frequently an autonomic recessive disorder and is a familiar origin of unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. There has been some information of heterozygous cases, mostly in Asian populations. Gilberts disease was named after the French gastroenterologist Augustin Nicolas Gilbert in 1901. The presence of Gilberts disease in a global scale is three to eight percent depending on the area of the diagnostic criteria was used:

1. Genetics. The reason for the body contacting high bilirubin levels is because of the fluctuating levels of UGT or urodine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase in the liver and the blood stream. UGT is an enzyme that aids the liver in breaking down bilirubin. Bilirubin is the waste product of the hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is used to carry oxygen in our bloodstream.

– Hepatic glucuronidation (essential for conjugating bilirubin) is concentrated to minimal levels to around 30 percent of standard; and – In addition to their reduced Bilirubin-UGT enzyme activity, most patients with Gilberts syndrome may have irregularities in the glucuronidation of aspirin or derivatives of coumarin and dopamine.

2. Presentation. It can stay overlooked for many years, but more often than not makes its manifestation in adolescence with:

– Irregular jaundice noticed after fasting, being short of of sleep, hearty exercise or during an intercurrent sickness. – Contacting certain medications may aid in the manifestation of jaundice e.g. chemotherapy. Unfavorable effects of anticancer agents have been observed in Gilberts patients owing to reduced drug or bilirubin glucuronidation.

There is hope

Despite other distinctive results related to Gilberts disease include jaundice, nausea, exhaustion, instability, bowel complaints, queasiness and vomiting, and difficulty concentrating. Investigations associated with the condition include: full blood count proves usual reticulocyte count – to differentiate from haemolysis; a climb in bilirubin on fasting or after IV nicotinic acid can corroborate the conclusion; additional liver function tests (as well as lactate dehydrogenase) and liver biopsy are regular, but the latter should hardly ever be required clinically; and absence of bilirubin and abnormally low amounts of urobilinogen in the urine.

The good news for people with Gilberts disease is that they really dont have much to worry about since the damage done by Gilberts disease is almost non threatening. No healing is required and life expectation is normal. Bear in mind also that not all the people who are affected by Gilberts disease show signs and symptoms at all. Although asymptomatic Gilberts disease all the way through ones life is very exceptional, there can positively be periods of time a patient has no external signs of the disease.

Absolutely no treatment is required for the condition. Patients with Gilberts disease can normally lead healthy lives. Their life expectancy is not really affected. Mild jaundice may recur from time to time for short periods, but usually causes no health problems.